Suspect:

Description of Incident:

Broward Sheriff’s Office Public Corruption Unit detectives arrested a man performing traffic stops last Friday in Broward and Palm Beach counties while posing as a BSO employee. Although the suspect says he only did this that day, detectives are looking for additional victims of this BSO impersonator.

On June 6, a man driving a dark Volvo pulled over a car with a teen driver and two teen passengers near 400 N. Federal Hwy. Tiago Monteiro felt the teenage girl had cut him off. He stopped his car in front of hers, walked up to her car and ordered her to roll down her window. Monteiro acted with authority and quickly flashed an ID in a lanyard. He told the victim that he worked for BSO and asked to see her license and registration. After reviewing her documents, Monteiro told her he would let her go with a warning.

Hours later the impersonator pulled over a second victim. This time it was an adult man in Boca Raton. He told the victim that he was a BSO detention technician and flashed a work ID from a telemarketing job. Again Monteiro asked to see the victim’s license and registration and again he told the victim he could go with a warning. The driver was suspicious and used his mobile phone to take photos of Monteiro, the Volvo and the tag.

Both incidents were reported to BSO. Public Corruption Unit detectives arrested Tiago Monteiro this morning at his home in Coral Springs. He admitted to performing the fake traffic stops and stated he was targeting drivers whom he felt should not be behind the wheel. Monteiro had no police lights in his car, no weapon and no BSO identification. He is facing charges of impersonating an officer and false imprisonment.

Monteiro has never been employed by BSO but has applied 14 times; most recently on March 30, 2012. Monteiro has a history of mental health issues.

Detectives are asking for anyone who’s been a victim of Monteiro or anyone with additional information to contact BSO Detective Joshua Webb at 954-321-1100 or Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or www.browardcrimestoppers.org.

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